Borough's schools celebrate recycling effort

Nearly half of Rochdale borough schools are now recycling all their paper and cardboard thanks to a new recycling programme.

The scheme allows schools to recycle their paper and cardboard - which can be up to 40% of their total waste. Schools don't have to use extra bins; instead they allocate an existing bin for paper and cardboard. All the contents can then be recycled easily, so amounts taken to landfill have been cut dramatically.

The recycling programme is a partnership between Rochdale Council's Schools Service and Sustainability Team, Groundwork Rochdale & Oldham and Biffa Waste Services Ltd.

With funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, every school in the borough is being visited by a representative from Groundwork Environmental Business Services.

The representative then conducts a 'waste audit' of the school and recommends not just how to recycle using the new scheme, but also how schools can reduce and re-use waste.

The programme will be extended to all schools in the borough during this school year.

Cardinal Langley RC High School in Middleton is just one of the schools who are now recycling their paper and cardboard on the new scheme. The school is so enthusiastic that they have decided make waste and recycling their focus on 'Make a Difference Day 2005'. 

On Friday 4 November, Year 11 pupils will be taking part in a whole range of activities to learn about the 3R's - Reduce, Re-use and Recycle - as well as helping to promote the new scheme to the rest of the school community.

Sue Brown, Head of Schools Service added, "Many pupils and teachers at schools throughout the borough have a strong commitment to recycling. This scheme is an great way to make the most of this, boosting our recycling efforts while learning how important these efforts are."

Sustainability Officer Hazel Stobbs said "Recycling is an excellent way for schools to reduce their impact on their local area and it is a great opportunity to educate our future citizens about the need to protect the
environment."